Improvement in buckles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. N. PLOTTS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUCKLES.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent N o. 55,533, dated June 12, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. N. PLo'lTs, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Buckle 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot' this specification, in which- Figure lis a plan view of my buckle, the loose end of the'strip being detached from the buckle. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the loose end ofthe strip or belt inserted, but not drawn taut. Fig. 3 is a view showing the buckle when in use. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the plane of the line :I: x, Fig. 3.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple and very cheap buckle, and at the same time an eiicient one, which can be easily operated. My invention consists in constructing the buckle-frame of a continuous rod or strip of metal, and in attaching to the said frame a transverse bar, which is fitted to slide to and fro on opposite side strips of the frame, as will be presently described.

The example of my buckle illustrated is made of' but two pieces of metal, A being the frame and B the transverse bar, which latter serves as a tongue to tighten the strap. To form the buckle a single piece ot' wire is bent in the proper shape--quadrangular, for instance-the two ends meeting; but they need not be secured together unless that be desirable. This constitutes the frame A.

The bar B is an ordinary piece of wire or metal, havingeyes a a on either end, which encircle the sides of the frame of the buckle, and slides to and fro. These parts constitute the entire buckle.

In practice I consider it best to make iirst a transverse bar with loops at its ends and place this ovei` the ends of the frame before they are bent down to forni the fourth and last side of the frame.

The buckle illustrated is applied by securing one of the sides of the buckle to the permanent strap or end of the belt. The loose end of the strap or belt is then slipped up from the under side over the bar B and under the side of the buckle opposite to where the permanent end of the strap or belt is secured, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. By drawing the bar up to the said side of the buckle the strap will be held securely against slipping, but capable at any time of being tightened or loosened by drawing up or letting out the loose end of the tightening-strap.

l do not limit myself to the use of wire in making the buckle, as the frame may be stamped out of metal and the bar applied by slipping eyes formed in its end over opposite sides of the frame; nor do I limit myself to the use of a single bar, as two might be employed, one for holding the permanent end of the strap or belt, and the other the loose or tightening end of the strap or belt, in which case both bars would operate in substantially the same manner.

My invention provides a cheap, simple, and efficient buckle for the bands of hoop-skirts and many other articles.

What I claim 'as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A buckle having the barB, with its eyes a a encircling the sides of the frame A, arranged to slide to and fro, in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 26th day of February, 1866.

J. N. PLOT'IS.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIvINGsToN, ALEX. F. RoBERTs. 

